FLIR ITS Brochure

Thermal Sensors for Traffic Applications

While video cameras are traditionally used for traffic video analysis, they need additional algorithms to overcome their inherent vulnerability to low light conditions (nighttime), too much light (sun glare), and shadows that can hide vehicles or pedestrians.

Thermal sensors do not have any these issues. Because they create a crisp image based on subtle temperature differences, thermal sensors need no light to work, are not blinded by direct sunlight, and give you uninterrupted 24-hour detection of vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists, regardless of the amount of light available.

Sun Glare

Glare from the sun blinds conventional video cameras, effectively hiding vehicles, people, and animals. Thermal sensors cannot see this glare, and only respond to the heat signatures they detect.

Headlights

Headlights are confusing to video cameras, tricking them into triggering false and missed calls, and making accurate observation of highway traffi c at night impossible. Thermal sensors are immune to headlight glare, so they see clearly.

See Through Shadows

Video cameras can miss pedestrians, cyclists, animals, and even cars if they’re in the shadows. But since thermal sensors see heat, not light, they give you a much more reliable detection solution.

Long-Range Night Viewing

At night, a highway looks like an indistinct row of lights to a video camera, making meaningful data collection and incident assessment impossible. But thermal cameras see the heat signatures of vehicles clearly from miles away, while also providing clear video of the roadside so you can see vehicles that have pulled over.